PACIFIC AND NAVAL AGREEMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 138, 8 December 1921, Page 5

PACIFIC AND NAVAL AGREEMENTS

MAY BE PUT IN TREATY FORM

CHINA'S WITHDRAWAL HINTED AT. ,;■. , ~

. (Mim Mill AIMCIATIM.— CtFTMMI.) (SPECIAL 10 AUBTRAUAN.N.Z. PRESS ASSOCIATION) (Beceived December 8, 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 6th December. Most of the newspapers to-day discuss the announcement' that the.Pacific' and naval agreements may be reduced to treaty form by the sub-committee in the Senate. The question of the attitude that body may assume become* of paramount importance.; Senator Borah, who claims that he forced the naval limitation programme on the Administration, indicates that he will support a treaty based on the naval agreements, and also a Far Eastern' treaty if it rests on fublio opinion; but he will resist if it suggests explicitly or by implication the use of force. [Senator Borah expresses the opinion that the Anglo-Japanese treaty is none of the United States business. He seeg no harm in the leading Powers considering'/ |-a plan permitting China to negotiate treaties directly with each nation claiming special privileges. Any general treaty would naturally include Britain and Japan, whose interests in the Orient are the greatest of any Powers.

Commenting on the Chinese resignations, the American spokesman said it was an extraordinary thing that China should think sjie has been unfairly treated. Nothing was clearer during the whole Conference than of completely sympathetic attitude towards China. He was unable to conceive a better atmosphere or conditions for the matter in dispute than the present. If China wa» afraid that she would not get her grievacces before the Conference, that was not so; but the question was what might happen afterwards. Here were t eight ■ nations, signatories to a certain treaty. Could it be expected that China's viewpoint should be accepted by .them all in an equal degree. China's greatest opportunity was, the place she occupied at present, enabling her to negotiate dk rectly with Japan. The fullest opportunity existed to reach a result. Mr. Hanihara to-day indicated that the Japanese anxiety to effect a settlement of the Shantung question might induce them to go further in the m»tt«r of 'concessions than the last offer of joint control of the railway*, which is the real bone of contention. He gave an augur* ance that Japan's mind was open on the question. . China's spokesman hinted to-day that if China did not get satisfactory terms regarding Shantung she might consider her withdrawal from the Conference. It is officially reported that thft' Chinese and Japanese delegates discussed the question of restoration to China of public properties in the territory of KiaochoWi The discussion was -adjourned.